STORRM

Sensor Test for Orion RelNav Risk Mitigation

ISS docking system

STORRM, a next generation docking camera and navigation system, will make docking and undocking to the International Space Station (ISS) and other spacecraft easier and safer. This is a necessary requirement for future space exploration missions like Orion, NASA’s first interplanetary spacecraft designed to carry astronauts into deep space.

In 2011, astronauts aboard the STS-134 mission to the ISS successfully completed an on-orbit test and verification of the STORRM system. The test validated STORRM’s ability to provide the required docking accuracy and the range capability necessary to meet crew safety, mass, volume and power requirements for a wide variety of future NASA missions, including those into deep space.

STS-134 crew at Ball Aerospace in June 2010 for training on the STORRM system.

What we did

Sensor provider

We designed and built the Vision Navigation Sensor (VNS) and the high definition Docking Camera, which are two key components of the STORRM system.

The VNS provides game-changing innovation by using eye-safe flash LIDAR to image a target and calculate with precise accuracies for range, bearing, alignment and orientation data. The docking camera provides high-resolution color imagery. Working together, these sensors provide real-time 3D images with a resolution 16 times higher than previous space shuttle sensors.

This innovative technology development effort is led by NASA’s Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Project Office at NASA Johnson Space Center in partnership with NASA Langley Research Center, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company and Ball.

STORRM Technology Demonstration

In June 2010, the STS-134 crew visited Ball Aerospace for training on the STORRM system. Watch to learn more about the program and the technology demonstration.